Really enjoyed the Harness Edge podcast with Hanover’s
Russell Williams who is indeed an eloquent spokesman for
the stallion book limitation proposals although some of
the points cited are indeed addressable.
There’s also a rather noticeable response on the
USTA’s own website in which 59% of some 3,000 respondents
favor the proposal while 41 % oppose. The split was 49%
in favor and 51% opposed on the Harness Edge poll.
Those are hardly landslide approval numbers.
What would happen if genetic similarities like The Hall
brothers, Conway, Angus and Andover or the Rich N Elegant
boys (Rocknroll Hanover, Red River Hanover etc) emerge as
DOMINANT stallions? Would that mean that the next brother
candidate couldn’t stand due to potential genetic
excess?
At this point the pacing breed seems to be the Western
sons and grandsons, the Cam sons and grandsons, and the
Abercrombie sons and grandsons All similar genetics extending
from Hal Dale. This is likely to continue especially when
power sources reach the third and fourth generation allowing
for direct male linebreeding.
Since speed is the integral factor in the winning of races,
those stallions able to produce speed will dominate. And
they’ll receive the bulk of the traffic.
This not as much a breed of horse as it is a breed of athletes
whose sole purpose is to compete and reproduce.
There was a reference to cheetahs. As many endangered species,
cheetahs are the victims of diminished habitat and all the
accordant problems therein. Therefore it seems predictable
that those animals surviving in diminished habitats would
be related.
It has long been proven that good mares can and do throw
quality with lesser stallions but they will not enable a
lesser stallion to produce better results with lesser quality
mares.
In light of the immediate and compelling problems facing
this industry namely increasing spectator apathy and owner
desertion, it’s hard to view this proposal as any
more than a back burner issue. That is assuming of course
it would actually hold up if challenged in court-rather
doubtful according to one very prominent attorney.
NO MORE WORLD
Looks like DuQuoin’s World Trotting Derby will soon
fall by the wayside according to various online reports.
Always felt that THE horse able to win The Hambletonian,
World Trotting Derby and Kentucky Futurity would have really
accomplished something.
If nothing else it stamps the Futurity as THE multi heat
classic for the 3-year-old trotting set from here on in..
WHO’S NEXT?
Fascinating that the thus far undefeated YOURE NEXT (Yankee
Paco-Buckinghim) is actually a 4x4 male linebred to NOBLE
VICTORY via a combination of the two existing links that
nobody could have predicted would endure and thrive.
The sire Yankee Paco is the Hambletonian winning son of
the highly successful Balanced Image he by Noble Victory’s
outstanding though marginally fertile son Noble Gesture.
The dam Buckinghim a three quarter sister to Eileen Donon,
is a Garland Lobell who of course is by another well known
Noble Victory son named Abc Freight who also accounted for
Hambletonian winner Historic Freight.
Youre Next has won nine in succession at Pompano though
he’s yet to face anything of substance.
Undoubtedly that will happen eventually.
Bob Marks